Movement Licensing in Animal Health Crisis

1. Movements of Live Animals, Products and Things

2. Foot and Mouth Disease Order 1962 • 36. Veterinary Inspector may • prohibit the movement of any person, animal carcase or thing to or from any place

3. Animals

4. Legislation - National • Foot and Mouth Disease Order (Northern Ireland) 1962 • Foot and Mouth Disease (Infected Area) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 • Foot and Mouth Disease (Controlled Area) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 • Foot and Mouth Disease (Controlled Area) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001

5. Legislation - EU • Commission Decision 2001/172, as amended by decisions • 2001/190; 2001/209; 2001/239; 2001/268; 2001/304; 2001/316; 2001/318

6. Principles of Licensing • To prevent the movement of animals from restricted zones or holdings • To record the movement of animals for epidemiological purposes (especially sheep) (NOTE - Identification of restricted herds on APHIS)

7. Brief Chronology • 28 February –Ban on movement (except to slaughter) & the holding of livestock auctions and markets • 06 March – Movement licensing system introduced (slaughter only)

8. Brief Chronology • 15 March – Licensing extended to cover movement between premises for animal welfare reasons • 30 March – Further adjustments announced, including the introduction of general licences and extended welfare movement

9. Brief Chronology • 14/15 April – Licensing suspended & licences rescinded • 23 April – Movements to slaughter resumed • 25 April – Licensing resumed

10. Licence Conditions • Required for to movement by road or across another holding • Licence must accompany animals during the journey • Animals must move directly from origin to destination • Vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected before and after each journey • In the case of cattle and pigs, normal movement notification requirements also apply

11. Licence Issue - Sheep • No movement of live sheep, except directly to slaughter

12. Licence Issue - Cattle • Occupational licences for the movement of dairy cattle • Specific licences for cattle within a business, subject to 21-day movement standstill

13. Licence Issue - Pigs • May move between related holdings subject to pre-movement clinical inspection at origin and destination

14. Licence Issue - Horses • May move within Northern Ireland subject to specific or occupational licence • Export subject to Commission Decision 2001/209/EC

15. MEAT 1. Trade Aspects 2. Slaughterhouse Controls

16. Trade Controls • Prohibition on trade in live animals, fresh meat and untreated products - 21 February 2001 (Decision 2001/145/EC) • Issue of instructions and information to staff • Liaison with DARD QAD (milk), FSA and District Council Environmental Health Officers (products) • Trade from Great Britain as required by Decision

17. Certification • Issue of amended certification for products eligible for trade • Approval of establishments under derogation for imported goods • Implementation of 30 day certification under Decision 2001/172/EC • UK wide supplementary certification, 17 March 2001

18. Slaughterhouses • Casualty slaughter animals from surveillance zones - X marked and controlled • Slaughter of pigs for welfare reasons - supervised transport to designated plant - X marked and controlled

19. Plant - Waste products • Blood - heat treated, landfilled or injection into land • Slurry - landfilled or injected into land • Rumen contents - landfilled or composted • Milk residues / waste sludge - landfilled, injected into land, heat or pH treatment

20. FMD publicity David Irwin DVO Education & Training

21. Objectives for publicity • equip farmers with the information necessary to prevent spread of disease • equip farmers with the knowledge necessary to recognise disease and report suspects • inform farmers of the legislation applying to their activities • encourage farmers to assist DARD with disease control • explain to farmers DARD’s policies and processes

22. Publicity objectives • provide industries and other bodies with information and advice to assist them in decision-making • provide information to the travelling public regarding regulations and procedures • provide information to the general public regarding the effect of the outbreak on them

23. Publicity vehicles • one-to-one • meetings • mailshots • leaflets • posters • media • website • telephone

24. One-to-one • Field staff in daily contact with farmers, representatives of associated industries and other bodies • HQ and divisional office staff in contact in person and by phone This necessitates keeping all staff well informed e.g. VS daily update, bulletin board, AfDS briefing

25. Meetings • regular agri-food industry meetings: UFU, NIAPA • pig industry / equine reps • NI Meat Exporters’ Association • livestock market operators • NI Veterinary Association • Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland • regional meetings for private veterinarians

26. Mailshots • ‘red & black’ protection / recognition / reporting flier • Minister’s letter to sheep farmers

27. Leaflets • Initial advice to farmers • ‘red & black’ leaflet • ‘Guide to farmers within the infected area’ leaflet • ‘blue & black’ leaflet • arriving passenger leaflet • departing passenger leaflet

28. Posters • ‘Prevent serious animal disease’ • Arriving passenger poster • ‘No admittance’ posters

29. Media • DARD press releases - 85 to date • co-operation with UFU in press releases • press advertisements including NI Executive guidance & ‘complacency’ campaign • press & TV visits to control centres • press conferences • press, radio & TV interviews • press queries

30. Website

31. Website - 25,000 hits daily

32. Telephone • epizootic disease hotline for private veterinarians reporting disease • public reporting suspect disease • confidential telephone - reporting suspect illegal activity • general information and advice - peaked at 3,259 in one day • Rural Support Helpline